ECD Delta Lacrosse Head Review
ECD's newest defense head is lighter, stiffer and built to eat ground balls. Here's how the Delta held up after a few months of close D, checks and clears.
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ECD doesn't drop a new head unless they think the game needs one. So when they launched the ECD Delta for defense, I had to get my hands on it. Their first D head, the Rebel D, was already light, and they somehow made the Delta even lighter.
It's also stiffer, with a more aggressive scoop. On paper, it looked like the perfect close D head. So I took it out to the field and put together this ECD Delta lacrosse head review to tell you if it really is the better close D head.
Shop the ECD Delta at Battle Lax ($109.99)
Key Features and Specifications
Before we get into the review, here are the key specs.
- Position
- Close D, LSM, SSDM
- Weight
- About 5.6 oz
- Stiffness
- Very stiff
- Mid-high
- Released
- 2024
- Price
- $109.99 ($129.99 Graphene)
- Colors
- White
- Black
- ECD Blue
- Graphene
Pros & Cons
- Very durable and stiff
- Aggressive scoop for quick ground balls
- Throws hard, effective checks
- Light, with optimized struts for rigidity
- Not much flex or whip
- Long-range shots are slower and can come off center
ECD Delta Lacrosse Head Ranking
I rate the ECD Delta lacrosse head an 8.5/10 on the Drip Meter.
The ECD Delta's Drip Meter rating.
Who's This Head Made For?
The Delta came out in 2024 as ECD's newest defense head after the Rebel D. ECD optimized the strut placement for rigidity and got the weight down to about 5.6 ounces, which makes it one of the lightest D heads they've made.
The stiffness is what sold me on trying it, and it lives up to the hype for close defensemen, LSMs and SSDMs. It throws seriously hard checks, perfect for knocking the ball loose and scooping it right off your man's stick.
But that's not all a defenseman needs. You've got to win ground balls too. So I ran it for a few months to see if that aggressive scoop was forgiving enough for quick pickups.
Not sure which ECD head fits your game? ECD breaks down their whole lineup here.
See it live ECD Lacrosse on YouTube
Accuracy of Shot and Pass
The Delta has a wider face that tapers into a tighter throat, which helps you start the fast break and hang onto the ball. The angled sidewalls create a slight pinch in the middle, and that gives you a stiff mid pocket built for quick, hard throws. I loved how fast it released on short outlet passes after a ground ball.
The redesigned scoop on the ECD Delta.
I had a few off-center throws at first because the pocket was stiffer than I like, but it got better after the break-in. The moderately wide face also gave me a good balance of speed and accuracy.
It has 6 top holes and 18 sidewall holes, so I could easily string a mid-high pocket for a lot more zip on my throws. My teammates were impressed with how accurate my feeds were.
That said, the long-distance shooting speed was slower than other heads I've used. If you're a two-way guy who pushes in transition a lot, check out the ECD DNA 2.0 or the Maverik Tank 2.0 ($109.99).
Catching and Cradling
Unlike the Rebel D, the Delta has a wider face profile that's ideal for defense. It caught better for me, especially hard passes in tight spaces.
The bigger surface area for picking off passes made my catching a lot more consistent. And the tighter throat keeps the ball snug when you're getting checked, so you're less likely to cough it up under pressure.
The ECD Delta strung with a mid-high pocket.
I also like the taller sidewalls for ball control while cradling. At first, I thought the ball would get stuck in the pocket and slow my release. But the Delta's design made for smooth cradling and quick releases.
So if you're a newer player who struggles with cradling and losing ground balls to the other team, this one's for you. The stiff pocket takes some getting used to, but it'll really tighten up your ball control while you cradle.
Checking
The Delta is a light defense head with a very stiff build. That stiffness let me throw hard checks, strong enough to pop the ball right out of my man's stick. I did have to put more force behind my checks than usual, though, because it doesn't flex or whip much.
The strut layout supports the sidewalls well and soaks up the impact when someone checks you back. It doesn't warp, either. The scoop held its shape all season.
ECD optimized the strut placement for rigidity.
The stiffness and wider face made it a little tougher to control the ball in traffic, but I loved how well it held its shape. I ran it through long summer practices with no signs of damage.
ECD also makes the Delta in Graphene for extra strength. Considering how tough the standard Delta already is, though, I wouldn't pay the extra $20 for the Delta Graphene ($129.99) unless you're breaking heads every season.
The ECD Delta comes in White, Black, ECD Blue and Graphene.
See every Delta color at Battle Lax
Ground Ball Pick-Up and Faceoff
The Delta isn't a faceoff head, but it's unreal on ground balls. ECD calls it a ground ball machine, and they're not wrong. The scoop is curved with a flatter surface that funnels the ball right into the pocket. That stiffness is what makes it a poor fit at the X, though.
Because of the aggressive scoop and protective lip, I tried it at the faceoff anyway, and it didn't meet my expectations. Ground balls were easy, but the head got stuck in tight spaces on loose draws.
If you take draws and want more flex, go with the Nike CEO 3 or the Warrior Burn FO ($89.99).
Coach's note: From the box guys up in Ontario to the poles I coached in upstate New York and the kids running clinics in Virginia Beach, the best defensemen I've seen all had one thing in common: they won ground balls. A stiff head like the Delta will hold up to a season of slashes, but it won't scoop the ball for you. Get low, run through it, and keep your top hand choked up. Do that and this head will make you look like an all-star.
Shop the ECD Delta and alternatives at BattleLax
BattleLax carries the ECD Delta in every color, plus the gear I'd pair it with and a couple of alternatives if your game is different.
| Gear | Why it's here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ECD Delta Unstrung Head | The head reviewed here (White, Black, ECD Blue) | $109.99 |
| ECD Delta Graphene | The Graphene version for extra strength | $129.99 |
| Maverik Tank 2.0 Head | Two-way defense head with more offensive pop | $109.99 |
| Warrior Burn FO Head | Faceoff head if you take draws | $89.99 |
| ECD Carbon 4.0 Defense Shaft | Carbon defense pole to pair with the Delta | $199.99 |
| ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Hard Mesh | Semi-hard mesh for a defense pocket | $24.99 |
Shop the ECD Delta at Battle Lax
People also ask
What are the key features of the ECD Delta lacrosse head?
The ECD Delta is a light (about 5.6 oz), very stiff defense head with an aggressive scoop for ground balls, a wide face that tapers to a tight throat, and a sidewall layout that strings up nicely with a mid-high pocket. It's built for close D, LSMs and transition defensemen.
How does the ECD Delta perform on ground ball pickups?
It's a ground ball machine. The redesigned scoop has a great return angle and funnels the ball straight into the pocket, even on choppy grass.
When was the ECD Delta lacrosse head released?
ECD launched the Delta in 2024 as its newest defense head after the Rebel D.
What makes the ECD Delta ideal for defense?
It's light and rigid, so you can throw hard checks without the head bending, and the aggressive scoop gets you on ground balls quickly. It holds its shape through a full season of contact.
How does the ECD Delta perform for catching and cradling?
Really well. The wide face gives you a big target on hard passes, and the tighter throat and taller sidewalls keep the ball locked in while you cradle under pressure.
Is the ECD Delta Graphene worth the extra money?
For most players, no. The standard Delta is already tough. The Graphene version costs $20 more at BattleLax for extra strength, so it's worth it mainly if you're cracking heads every season.
Final Verdict
The ECD Delta is one of the best defense heads out there, with serious stiffness for quick, hard outlet passes. I would have liked a little more flex, but the aggressive scoop makes ground balls easy.
The strong sidewalls throw powerful checks, and the mid pocket keeps the ball locked in while you cradle. It's a tough head that soaks up contact and holds its shape, so it's a great fit for close D, LSMs and SSDMs.
Want to see how it stacks up? Check out our list of the best defense lacrosse heads.
